Ac*cel"er*ate (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accelerated (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Accelerating.] [L. acceleratus, p. p. of accelerare; ad + celerare to hasten; celer quick. See Celerity.]
1.
To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of; -- opposed to retard.
2.
To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of; as, to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc.
3.
To hasten, as the occurence of an event; as, to accelerate our departure.
Accelerated motion Mech., motion with a continually increasing velocity. -- Accelerating force, the force which causes accelerated motion.
Nichol.
Syn. -- To hasten; expedite; quicken; dispatch; forward; advance; further.
© Webster 1913.